Kaohsiung’s Human Christmas Tree

As mentioned in our previous post, the people of Kaohsiung in Taiwan formed a human Christmas tree tonight using cell phones, glowsticks and flashlights.   Here’s a photo of the event from the Taipei Times.  Merry Christmas!  

Christmas in Asia

I’m not sure what my favorite Christmas tradition is. There are so many to choose from – decorating the  Christmas tree, opening presents on Christmas morning, checking out all of the holiday lights around town, and Kentucky Fried Chicken. 

Ok, so I don’t generally associate Christmas and KFC. But that’s not the case in Japan:

What’s on the menu [for Christmas Eve dinner]? An array of healthful and elegant Japanese morsels followed by cleansing green tea? Actually no, it’s a big bucket of Kentucky Fried Chicken. And for afters, a fat wedge of strawberry cream sponge cake.   The KFC website in Japan started taking advance Christmas orders on December 1 and in some suburbs sold out completely after only a week.

Which got me thinking about Taiwan. I didn’t think they would do much for Christmas there either. But apparently 50,000 people will form a human Christmas tree  on Saturday.   

I’m excited that Christmas is being celebrated worldwide.  But  I wish more folks were celebrating the birth of Christ rather than mere traditions.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Informative site about Taiwan

We came across a website that has a good overview of Taiwan.  The Overseas Missionary Fellowship (OMF) offers a glimpse of the people of Taiwan, culture, religion, and history of the country.  Hope those of you who share our interest in Taiwan find it helpful, too!

Adoption author to answer questions on show

Adoption author and adoptee Sherrie Eldridge will answer questions tomorrow, December 5, during Dawn Davenport’s weekly radio program.  Ms. Eldridge is the author of Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew.  The show is broadcast live online at noon EST on Wednesdays. 

A look inside the referral process

Judy, another mom adopting from Taiwan, posted some insightful information about the referral process on her blog.  Thanks Judy!

Adoptions Declining

This story was surprising, since just a month ago we posted that international adoption was surging.   The latest statistics show that international adoption rates have declined in the last two years from an all time high in 2004.    Causes cited in the article include increasing restrictions on foreign adoption in countries such as China and Russia.   From the AP article:

”A drop in international adoptions is sad for children,” said Thomas Atwood, president of the National Council for Adoption. ”National boundaries and national pride shouldn’t get in the way of children having families.” . . .

She [Elizabeth Bartholet, Harvard professor] said China and Russia reflected a trend in which countries opened themselves up to international adoption, then scaled back. She attributed this in part to UNICEF and other international organizations encouraging countries to care for children within their homeland, even when domestic programs such as foster care might be inadequate.

We should be praying this Christmas for children without a family in other countries.  And we should pray that government officials will do what is right and put children first.